Quiz The Book of Magic Alice Hoffman

The Book of Magic Quiz: 20 Questions on Plot, Characters, and Themes

Quiz

This quiz covers the entire novel, from Jet's vision to the final sacrifice. Test your knowledge of plot, character motivations, themes, and symbols. Answers are at the bottom.

Plot & Sequence

  1. What does Jet Owens see in the mirror at the Owens Library at the start of the novel?

  • A) Her death in seven days

  • B) A vision of her sister Franny

  • C) The Book of the Raven

  • D) A black crow

  1. After Jet's funeral, who receives a letter from Vincent with a return address in Paris?

  • A) Sally

  • B) Franny

  • C) Kylie

  • D) Gillian

  1. What does Kylie find inside a book of Emily Dickinson's poems that leads her to The Book of the Raven? (Short answer)

  2. Where does Kylie travel to after leaving the Owens Library?

  • A) Paris

  • B) London

  • C) Thornfield

  • D) Boston

  1. What does Tom Lockland intend to summon upon the village of Thornfield?

  • A) A flood

  • B) The Red Death plague

  • C) A swarm of bees

  • D) A fire

  1. How does Sally banish Tom Lockland? (Short answer)

  2. What does Franny do to break the curse?

  • A) She burns the Grimoire

  • B) She drowns herself with the Grimoire

  • C) She gives the Grimoire to Sally

  • D) She buries the Grimoire

  1. What happens to Antonia at the end of the novel?

  • A) She gives birth to a baby

  • B) She marries Ariel

  • C) She moves to Paris

  • D) She becomes a librarian

Character Motivation

  1. Why does Jet hide The Book of the Raven in the library?

  • A) To keep it from falling into the wrong hands

  • B) To ensure it can be found by a woman in need

  • C) To destroy it

  • D) To give it to Franny

  1. Why does Vincent return to the family after decades of faking his death?

  • A) He learns of Jet's death and receives a letter from her

  • B) He wants to reclaim the family house

  • C) He is forced by Franny

  • D) He wants to meet his granddaughters

  1. Why does Kylie agree to perform rituals with Tom Lockland? (Short answer)

  2. Why does Sally renounce her magic?

  • A) To save Ian from poison

  • B) To banish Tom Lockland and end the curse

  • C) To become ordinary as she always wanted

  • D) To protect her daughter

  1. Why does Franny choose to sacrifice herself?

  • A) She is old and ready to die

  • B) She wants to break the curse for her family

  • C) She feels guilty for Jet's death

  • D) She wants to join Jet

Theme & Symbol

  1. What does the deathwatch beetle symbolize in the novel?

  • A) Impending death

  • B) Good luck

  • C) The Owens curse

  • D) Magic

  1. What does the red rain over Thornfield represent?

  • A) The curse's destructive power

  • B) A natural phenomenon

  • C) A sign of hope

  • D) The blood of the Owens family

  1. What is the significance of The Book of the Raven? (Short answer)

  2. What does the Grimoire represent for the Owens family?

  • A) Their magical heritage and history

  • B) A source of danger

  • C) A burden to be destroyed

  • D) A tool for revenge

Synthesis

  1. How does the novel explore the idea of sacrifice? (Short answer)

  2. Compare the ways Jet and Franny approach their deaths. (Short answer)

  3. What role does the Owens library play in the story?

  • A) It is a sanctuary and a source of knowledge

  • B) It is a place of danger

  • C) It is where the curse began

  • D) It is destroyed

Answer Key

  1. A – Jet sees her death in the mirror and learns she has seven days to live.

  2. B – Franny receives Vincent's letter with a Paris return address.

  3. A letter from Jet – Kylie finds it inside a Dickinson poetry book; it names The Book of the Raven as the cure.

  4. B – Kylie flies to London after leaving the library.

  5. B – Tom intends to summon the Red Death plague.

  6. She recites a spell renouncing her magic, cutting her hair and blood as a sacrifice – This banishes Tom and costs Sally her magic.

  7. B – Franny drowns herself with the Grimoire to give a life for a life.

  8. A – Antonia gives birth to a baby.

  9. B – Jet hides it so a woman in need can find it; she tells Miss Hardwick it's for someone willing to save a loved one.

  10. A – Vincent learns of Jet's death and receives a letter from her with the key to the family house.

  11. To save Gideon – Kylie wants to break the curse that has put Gideon in a coma.

  12. B – Sally renounces her magic to banish Tom Lockland and end the curse.

  13. B – Franny sacrifices herself to break the curse for her family.

  14. A – The deathwatch beetle is a death omen; it appears before Franny's death.

  15. A – The red rain is the curse's destructive power, spreading illness through the village.

  16. It contains the instructions for breaking a curse, but also dangerous dark magic – The book holds the secret to ending the Owens curse, but requires a life for a life.

  17. A – The Grimoire represents the family's magical heritage and history; Franny copies it to preserve it.

  18. Sacrifice is central: Jet gives up her life, Franny gives hers to break the curse, Sally gives up her magic, and Kylie risks herself – The novel shows that love often demands sacrifice.

  19. Jet accepts her death with grace, spending time with loved ones and preparing; Franny chooses her death to save her family – Both show courage and love.

  20. A – The library is a sanctuary and source of knowledge; the novel begins and ends in a library.

For more discussion, see the book overview, questions and answers, and ending explained.

Published by What Happened?

How this guide was made Report an error